Herbert Smith Freehills promotes 25 lawyers to counsel and knowledge counsel

Herbert Smith Freehills is promoting 21 new counsel and four knowledge counsel across the firm. Their promotions take effect on 1 May 2025. 

These appointments will strengthen the firm's leading disputes and transactional practices to benefit clients around the globe. They reflect the firm's commitment to recognising and investing in talent, supporting lawyers to develop in their careers at the firm. 

The firm's new counsel and their principal areas of practice are: 

Asia 

• Rachata Champathong, Bangkok: Class actions and International Arbitration (Of Counsel) 
• Howard Chan, Hong Kong: Competition and Anti-trust Law (Of Counsel) 
• Jaime Fong, Hong Kong: Equity Capital Markets (Of Counsel) 
• Yashvini Janakan, Singapore: Private Equity and Private M&A (Of Counsel) 
• Aaron McDonald, Hong Kong: International Arbitration and Public International Law (Of Counsel) 
• Michael McErlaine, Tokyo: International Arbitration (Of Counsel) 
• Jedsarit Sahussarungsi, Bangkok: Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration, M&A and Shareholders Disputes (Of Counsel) 

Australia 

• Magdalena Blanch-de Wilt, Melbourne: Telecommunications, Media & Technology – Cyber (Executive Counsel) 
• Chevi Levin, Melbourne: M&A (Executive Counsel) 
• Kai Low, Perth: Project Finance and Real Estate (Executive Counsel) 
• Kristin Northway, Brisbane: Energy and Infrastructure (Executive Counsel) 

EMEA 

• Janine Mallis, Dubai: International Arbitration and Corporate Crime & Investigations (Of Counsel) 
• Romain Martinez, Paris: Tax (Of Counsel) 
• Stewart Payne, Johannesburg: Competition (Director) 
• Guilhem Séronie-Doutriaux, Paris: Employment, Pensions and Incentives (Of Counsel)  
• Annabelle Woerth, Paris: Projects (Energy, Mining and Infrastructure) (Of Counsel) 

UK 

• Chris Hurn, London: Financial Services Regulation (Of Counsel) 
• Christine Iacono, London: Public Law and Regulatory (Of Counsel (Australia)) 
• Yasmin Mitha, London: Regulatory Advisory and Regulatory Litigation (Of Counsel) 
• Edgar Monteiro, London: Energy and Infrastructure Finance (Of Counsel) 
• Jessica Welborn, London: Intellectual Property (Transactional and Advisory) (Of Counsel)

The firm's new knowledge counsel and their principal areas of practice are: 

• Richard Evans, London: Pensions  
• Becky Johnson, London: Construction and Engineering 
• Elizabeth Kantor, London: International Arbitration 
• Noe Minamikata, London: Construction and Infrastructure Disputes